Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 359

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Attack on Canton.

JUNE,

were quiet. Yihshan, supposing the victory would be certain and easy, had determined to take the lion by surprise. The second watch of the night had not closed, ere his operations commenced. The Modeste was then at anchor west from the factories, and at that point where the fort at Shameën nearly due north was within the range of gunshot. The Pylades, Algerine, and Nemesis were some rods further to the southward and eastward. The cutter Louisa, and the Aurora a private schooner, were at anchor in front of the factories. The Alligator was at her old anchorage near Howqua's fort, three or four miles east of the city.

It is not quite certain, whether the Chinese officers had selected this day as a fortunate moment for putting in operation their hostile forces, or whether they were induced to anticipate the hour of attack, finding as they did that their designs had been detected. There are those who pretend to affirm that many of the Chinese, and even the prefect of the city, were not aware the attack was to be made that night. We are constrained to think far otherwise, for many persons in the city have assured us that early on the morning of the 21st they were apprised of the intended attack.

The Western fort, or Se paoutae, situated about a mile beyond the factories on the north bank of the river, is a small square piece of work, built of stone and brick, and had recently been lined with a great number of sand bags. Directly in front of it, one small sand battery had been quite recently thrown up, and also a second one on a projecting point a few yards further to the east. In this last battery was one very large gun, weighing 8000 catties, with a 10 inch bore. Some of the other pieces were large and well made. In

command of these works Yihshan had placed Twan Yungfuh ( 永福)

a brave veteran officer from Szechuen, with a detachment of picked men. On the river beyond the fort were collected more than two hundred fire-vessels of various sizes.

It was from this quarter, and by these forces, that the 'combined attack' was commenced. Eight or ten of these boats, chained together two and two, filled with combustibles, and well manned with 'water braves,' or naval militia, bore down in disguise upon the En- glish ships. This was at 10 o'clock, P. M., and near the ebb of the tide. When within a few yards of the Modeste, the advanced ship, being hailed by the sentry on the forecastle, these boats were simulta- neously set on fire, and almost instantly wrapped in a blaze. This bold onset was promptly warded off, with some hazard, but no serious damage. The water braves were so near the Modeste when they

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